Over the past few years, the legalization of cannabis has been a hotly contested issue, both in political fields and every day life. There are certainly pros and cons to cannabis legale, but one of the main benefits is the fact the marijuana has numerous health benefits that are already being used to treat patients all over the world. Some states, such as Illinois, Michigan, and Florida, to name a few, do not allow cannabis for recreational use, but do allow it as a medical treatment. Skeptical about using marijuana as a natural health treatment? Check out five tried-and-true ways that cannabis can improve health and wellness:

Treating Chronic Pain

This is the most popular use of cannabis in medical users. Cannabis contains CBD, an active chemical that provides soothing properties to brain and body without putting the user in a high state. CBD has been said to ease aching joints and pains, and the fact that it’s possible to use without getting high makes this element of cannabis one of the safest and most effective.

Increasing Lung Capacity

Contrary to popular belief, smoking marijuana does not damage lungs. In fact, there’s a large amount of evidence that states smoking cannabis can actually strengthen lungs. Because the drug itself does not damage lungs or cause cancer, taking the deep inhales necessary to breathe in marijuana smoke actually increases lung capacity. Scientists have examined regular marijuana and tobacco user over a period of many years and found that while the tobacco users had harmed or destroyed their lungs, the cannabis users had actually increased their lung function.

Decreasing Anxiety

This treatment is more dependent on the type of person, but generally a low dose of cannabis can ease feelings of anxiety. While smoking a lot has the stereotype of causing paranoia, partaking in a small amount of marijuana can calm your brain down and make you more focused and less worried.

Slowing down seizures

Those with epilepsy know how crippling having episodes of seizures on a regular basis can be. Many have found that using marijuana has slowed down or completely stopped their seizures, giving them an opportunity to live without fear. Much like the chronic pain treatment element of cannabis, this benefit has a lot to do with the CBD found in marijuana, so even just legalizing CBD oil could help countless people who suffer from epilepsy.

Shrinking tumors

One of the most profound impacts of cannabis is the fact that it can significantly assist in cancer treatment. While smoking marijuana does not help prevent cancer, smoking it post diagnosis can greatly help in shrinking and eliminating cancer-causing cells. However, because of the stigma around marijuana, studies have been limited, and legalizing it could potentially lead to more research and health care treatments. In addition, it is commonly used to ease the pain of those going through chemotherapy and helps re-engage patient’s appetites.

No matter what your stance is on marijuana usage, this plant has had a strong, positive impact on many lives. Still, we haven’t even begun to tap into all the potential health benefits of cannabis, and one way that we can help is to accept and support those who use it for medical reasons.